Reduced long-term respiratory morbidity after treatment of respiratory syncytial virus bronchiolitis with ribavirin in previously healthy infants: A preliminary report

Abstract

Previously healthy infants less than 6 months of age with severe respiratory syncytial virus bronchiolitis who required hospitalization were identified from hospital records. Infants had been treated either conservatively (control group, n = 19) or with ribavirin added to conservative management (study group, n = 22). All infants underwent a 1‐year follow‐up after the initial illness. There was a significant reduction in the prevalence of reactive airway disease in the group treated with ribavirin (P < 0.05) compared with the control group, both in terms of the proportion of patients developing airway reactivity (59% vs. 89%) and the number of episodes of reactive airway disease (31 vs. 70). Our data suggest that ribavirin reduces the prevalence of airway reactivity. Pediatr. Pulmonol. 1998; 25:154–158. © 1998 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

Past, Present and Future Approaches to the Prevention and Treatment of Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection in Children

“…Ribavirin was approved in 1986 for aerosol treatment of RSV infection in infants and children in the United States; however, it is infrequently prescribed and mainly limited to immunocompromised infants. Ribavirin has been shown in one study to reduce the incidence of airway reactivity in previously healthy children if given early [ 121 , 122 ], though not in another study [ 123 ]. It has also been shown to reduce the risk of progression from URTI to LRTI and all-cause mortality in RSV-positive allo-hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) patients ranging from 3 to 70 years of age [ 124 ].…”

Ribavirin for respiratory syncytial virus bronchiolitis reduced the risk of asthma and allergen sensitization

“…This is the first‐time these findings have been reported. The literature concentrated on the influence of ribavirin on the development of wheezing disorders but not asthma (11–15). Two studies exclusively enrolled previously healthy children (13, 15), while three others included a mixed population of children with or without underlying diseases (11, 12, 14).…”

“…The literature concentrated on the influence of ribavirin on the development of wheezing disorders but not asthma (11–15). Two studies exclusively enrolled previously healthy children (13, 15), while three others included a mixed population of children with or without underlying diseases (11, 12, 14). As to the results, three studies declared the beneficial effect of ribavirin on preventing wheezing illness (13–15), but the other two did not (11, 12).…”

“…Two studies exclusively enrolled previously healthy children (13, 15), while three others included a mixed population of children with or without underlying diseases (11, 12, 14). As to the results, three studies declared the beneficial effect of ribavirin on preventing wheezing illness (13–15), but the other two did not (11, 12). A small case number was the major limitation of these studies, resulting in preliminary and conflicting results.…”

Mutagenic Effects of Ribavirin on Hepatitis E Virus—Viral Extinction versus Selection of Fitness-Enhancing Mutations

“…Another example where an immunomodulatory effect was described for RBV is in RSV infection. It was proposed that a T helper type 2 cytokine response initiated the cascade leading to airway hyper-reactivity, which in turn can be blocked by RBV treatment [55] (Figure 2A).…”